West Red Lake Gold closes US$35 million credit line for Madsen mine restart, Ontario
West Red Lake Gold Mines Ltd. [TSXV: WRLG; OTCQB: WRLGF; FRA: UJ0] entered into a completed credit agreement with Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund II LP, pursuant to which the company will borrow up to a maximum principal amount of US$35 million to be issued in three tranches of: US$15 million (tranche 1); UIS$15 million (tranche 2); and US$5 million (tranche 3). Tranche 1 was drawn down on December 31, 2024.
The credit facility was first announced October 17, 2024, when the company and Nebari had entered into a non-binding term sheet. West Red Lake Gold and Nebari have worked closely over the last 2.5 months through a detailed due diligence process that investigated all aspects of West Red Lake Gold and the Madsen mine project.
“Closing this transaction with Nebari is a major derisking step and gives West Red Lake access to up to US$35 million of non-dilutive capital at highly favourable repayment terms, which offers us solid operational flexibility going forward and allows the company to sustain the momentum as we push to restart the Madsen project. I would like to thank Nebari for working with us to realize the opportunity in the high-grade gold, infrastructure, permits and upside potential at Madsen. With this credit facility in place, West Red Lake Gold is well funded to restart the Madsen mine in 2025.”
Richard Gaze, managing director of Nebari, commented: “Nebari is excited to partner with West Red Lake Gold to support the restart of the Madsen project. We have high confidence in the dedication and professionalism of the West Red Lake Gold team and look forward to the successful restart of commercial gold production at Madsen.”
The proceeds from the credit facility will be used for completing the remaining capital costs to restart the Madsen mine; and other corporate, exploration and working capital expenses.
Repayment of 50% of principal outstanding through fixed straight-line amortization commences on the 15th month following the drawdown of tranche 1. The remaining 50% of borrowed funds are due on the maturity date. The credit facility may be repaid prior to maturity at any time subject to the additional payment of a make-whole threshold.
Interest will accrue on the advanced outstanding principal amount of the loan based on a floating rate per annum equal to the sum of the three-month term SOFR (secured overnight financing rate) reference rate administered by CME Loan Party Benchmark Administration Ltd. (CBA), as determined on the first date of each calendar month; and 8.0% per annum, provided that, if the term SOFR is less than 4.0%, it shall be deemed to be 4.0%.
In addition, the company is paying to Nebari an administration fee of $30,000 per annum and an arrangement fee in the amount of 1.5% of the financed amount for each tranche; further details are set out in the loan agreement. No finders’ fees are payable in connection with the credit facility.
The maturity date of the credit facility will be the date 42 months following the closing of tranche 1. Nebari is at arm’s-length to the company and currently owns no securities of the company.
The company will issue on the closing of each tranche a number of non-transferable common share purchase warrants equal to:
Tranche 1 – the company has issued 5,867,376 loan bonus warrants at an exercise price of 73 cents (using a U.S.-dollar/Canadian-dollar exchange rate of 1.436) per common share, which will expire on the date that is 42 months from the date of issuance; the loan bonus warrants are subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day under applicable securities laws;
Tranches 2 and 3 – for each, the Canadian equivalent of 20 per cent of the loan amount being drawn in respect of each tranche divided by a Canadian-dollar amount equal to a 30-per-cent premium to the lower of the lowest 20-day VWAP (volume-weighted average price) of the company’s share price prior to the date which the company issues its request for the advance in respect of each tranche ; the date of the first public announcement regarding the company’s intention to draw the loan each tranche; and the closing date of the advance of each tranche; and the common share price of the most recent equity raise, subject to compliance with TSXV policies.
Each loan bonus warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the company until the date that is 42 months following the closing of tranche 1, with such term subject to a pro rata reduction if the financed amount is prepaid in whole or in part, then a pro rata number of the total loan bonus warrants issued in relation to such tranche will have their term reduced to the later of one year from the date of issuance of the warrants and 30 days from the reduction, in accordance with TSXV policies. The lender will receive cash compensation for any pro rata reduction.
The loan is also guaranteed by the company’s wholly owned subsidiaries, West Red Lake Gold Mines (Ontario) Ltd. and Red Lake Madsen Mine Ltd. The guarantors and the company have entered into security arrangements with the lender while also initially securing the loan by way of a pledge of 100% of all shares of the guarantors; and a registered, perfected first-priority senior security interest in, lien on and pledge of all intercorporate debt between the company and the guarantors. With this credit facility in place, West Red Lake Gold will continue its detailed mine ramp-up schedule, which, in the coming months, includes: test mining to generate bulk samples pulled from four stopes within two resource areas, batch stockpiled; continued increase in daily development metreage; starting up of the mill late in the first quarter and processing the bulk sample in a batch campaign, enabling reconciliation between expected and actual grades; production mining and milling ramp-up starting in Q2 2025.
West Red Lake Gold Mines is focused on advancing and developing its flagship Madsen gold mine and the associated 47 km2 prospective land package in the Red Lake district of Ontario. West Red Lake Gold Mines also holds the wholly owned Rowan property in Red Lake, with an expansive property position covering 31 square kilometres, including three past-producing gold mines – Rowan, Mount Jamie and Red Summit.